1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Cards

Although Flair made its debut a few years earlier, 1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball took that product line to another level. The hobby-exclusive offering brought the sophistication of previous Flair releases and added low numbered parallels to a checklist that included hobby superstar, Michael Jordan, and rookie cards for Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Ray Allen.

When discussing 1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball, there is nothing basic about the glossy base set. To those unfamiliar with the product, it might seem like a daunting undertaking to even collect the release. That is further apparent by a stern warning on the box that states:

"WARNING! Do not buy this product unless you are a serious collector looking for a challenge."

While this is written mostly in jest, the set is more complex than other products from this time. A total of 90 cards make up the base set, but each card has three different levels, or "Rows," as they are called. So really, there are 270 base cards, with each Row featuring different odds based on their placement in the main checklist.

Good so far? Each Row features a different front image for each player and a specific theme, noted on the card front. Row 2, the true base set, is known as "Style." The next batch of cards, more rare than Row 2, are in Row 1, which goes by "Grace." Row 0, the rarest cards in the base set, is called "Showcase." Since each Row features a different front image, distinguishing the different versions for each player is fairly easy. The specific odds, which are tiered within each Row, can get a little messy, but a simple breakdown can be seen below.

Row 2 Odds (Style)

Card #1-30 (Showtime) 1.5:1 pack

Card #31-60 (Showpiece) 1:2 packs

Card #61-90 (Show Stopper) 1:1.5 packs

Row 1 Odds (Grace)

Card #1-30 (Show Stopper) 1:2.5 packs

Card #31-60 (Showtime) 1:2 packs

Card #61-90 (Showpiece) 1:3.5 packs

Row 0 Odds (Showcase)

Card #1-30 (Showpiece) 1:24 packs

Card #31-60 (Show Stopper) 1:10 packs

Card #61-90 (Showtime) 1:5 packs

The 90-card checklist is broken down into groups of 30, noted by another theme on the card back, which dictates their specific odds in each Row. These themes include Showtime, Show Stopper and Showpiece. For example, Kobe Bryant is card #31. That puts him in the second grouping among the Rows. However, the themes swap in each Row, so Bryant's Row 2 is Showpiece, Row 1 is Showtime and Row 0 is Show Stopper. Each Row has a distinct design and this can be seen with the three different Kobe Bryant cards below.

Although the 90 cards checklist makes for a smaller group of players, the quality factor is strong. In addition to the impressive rookie class, a deep roster of Hall of Fame talent is found, including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon and others. Stat geeks will especially enjoy the card backs because they include full listings for both pro and college seasons.

On top of all that, a limited Legacy Collection Parallel, numbered to 150,is available for each Row version. Teal foil text and a black-and-white image on the back are the main differences from the base cards. These limited cards also have the distinction of being the very first serial numbered NBA cards. Since the parallels all feature the same print run, regardless of the Row, each card is available at the same odds. On average, the Legacy Collection parallels fall 1:30 packs.

Considering all that is involved in the base set, it is not that surprising that there are only two inserts. Class of Ninety-six showcases the current crop of rookies in a 20-card set. These embossed inserts drop 1:5 packs, on average. With much steeper odds, Hot Shots is a die-cut card that has the look of a flaming basketball. They have seen considerable interest and value in recent years, especially since Michael Jordan is in the checklist, and are a tough pull at 1:90 packs.

1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball boxes come with 24 packs and five cards per pack. Sealed box prices have skyrocketed in recent years and they are not the easiest product to locate.

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Jerry Stackhouse

Trey Treutel | E-Mail Author
Trey Treutel is an Ole Miss grad and a lifelong sports fanatic. He is a huge fan of the NBA and NFL, as well as soccer, college basketball and college football. As a kid, he collected football and basketball cards. As an adult, he started collecting basketball cards again on a whim and has since expanded to other sports and entertainment options. Find Trey on Twitter at @datreute.